War of Rage

The War of Rage was fought between the Garou and the Fera thousands of years ago, before the start of recorded history. Sources differ on whether it occurred before or after the Impergium (when the shifters openly interacted with humans and controlled their numbers. See the Garou guide for more information).

Sources differ on why exactly the War of Rage started. All sources point as the Garou being the aggressor. Some say the Garou grew jealous of the other shifters sought to make themselves the first among Gaia's children. Some simply think that the Garou wanted to rule all the changing breeds and the War was a way to force them to submit. An oft-heard legend says that the Silver Fangs went to the Gurahl and demanded the secret to resurrection. The Gurahl refused, as the Breath of Gaia was not meant for them. Offended and angry, the proud Silver Fangs attacked.

While some of the Fera are more gifted and powerful than the Garou in single combat, werewolves fight in packs. They picked off the more solitary Fera one by one.

The were-bears, who were never populous to begin with, are almost extinct. What remains of the Gurahl finds safety in hibernation, with only a couple awake at a time.

The Catkind used to be found roving in all corners of the world. Many tribes were lost completely, including the European breed of mountain lion. The ancestors of the surviving breeds inherited an instinctive desire to attack werewolves on sight. It is usually when the Garou make the first move in asking for help that the Bastet are even willing to listen. Some Bastet try to fight this ancestral bitterness so that they may all fight the Wyrm. The Garou must swallow their pride, because the Bastet won't.

The were-spiders have always had strained relations with the Garou. The War of Rage simply gave the Garou another excuse. The Ananasi were likely the most prepared for the onslaught, but as usual they keep to themselves.

The Ratkin, a more vindictive sort, have a particular hatred for the Garou as the War of Rage drove one whole aspect of them to extinction. Ratkin numbers have since rebounded (some say there are as many lurking Ratkin as there are Garou). They have never recovered their Speakers. Some Breeds didn't survive at all.

The Corax were largely spared in the War of Rage. While the Corax deny it, some Fera consider them to be spies and traitors.

Note: Werebats were driven to extinction in Europe during the War of Rage but are still around in the undiscovered New World (the “second war of rage” that happens during colonization is still hundreds of years off). The spirit of Bat, in Europe has fallen to the Wyrm and no one has any idea what’s going on in the Americas.